Question Words in English – Easy Guide with Examples
Have you ever stopped to think about how powerful a simple question can be? Question words like who, what, when, where, why, and how are more than just the building blocks of curiosity, they’re the keys to unlocking deeper understanding, meaningful conversations, and compelling stories. Whether you’re a writer, a student, or just someone trying to navigate daily life, mastering these question words can sharpen your thinking and communication in surprising ways.
What are the Question Words?
They are also known as interrogative words, are used to ask questions in English. These words help us gather information about people, places, time, reasons, methods, and more. Here are the most common question words in English:
- Who
- What
- Where
- When
- Why
- Which
- How
- Whose
- Whom
More Examples
- 1. Who made this cake?
- 2. What do you want to learn?
- 3. Where is your phone?
- 4. When did she call you?
- 5. Why are they late?
- 6. Which pen do you prefer?
- 7. How can I help you?
- 8. Whose turn is it now?
- 9. Whom should I contact?
What Are Basic Question Words?
Basic question words are the most commonly used words in English to ask for specific information. These words are also called interrogative words, and most of them begin with “Wh,” except How.
List of Basic Question Words
Who – To ask about a person
What – To ask about a thing or information
Where – To ask about a place or location
When – To ask about time
Why – To ask about a reason
Which – To ask about a choice
Whose – To ask about ownership
Whom – To ask about a person (object)
How – To ask about manner or method
Remember:
These question words help you gather details such as who did it, what happened, where, when, and why.
They are usually placed at the beginning of a question.
Every question needs a question mark (?) at the end.
1. What are question words in English grammar?
Answer: Question words are used to ask for specific information. They usually start with Wh (like what, where, when) or How.
2. What is the difference between ‘Who’ and ‘Whom’?
Answer:
Who is used as a subject (Who called you?).
Whom is used as an object (Whom did you see?).
Note: ‘Whom’ is more formal and less common in daily speech.
3. Can ‘How’ be used with other words?
Answer: Yes!
How much – How much does it cost?
How many – How many apples do you want?
How long – How long will it take?
4. Is ‘Which’ used for people or things?
Answer: ‘Which’ can be used for both, especially when there’s a limited choice.
Example: Which student got the highest marks?
5. Are question words only used at the beginning of questions?
Answer: Mostly, yes. However, in indirect questions, they can appear mid-sentence.
Example: I don’t know where she went.
